The Scorching Heat Master looked at Hugo with a frozen expression.
Only one thought filled his mind at that moment.
‘If I’m found out, these bastards will kill me!’
He didn’t know why such a bounty had been placed on him, but did thugs like these care about uncles or former masters?
Of course, Hugo was naive enough to be sweet-talked, but with this guy, there was no chance.
‘It’d at least be the head.’
No, he’d be lucky if it ended with just his head! This was the kind of guy who’d dismember you, price each part, and auction them off without batting an eye!
That was why the Scorching Heat Master was growing increasingly anxious, feeling as if his insides were burning.
‘I have to hide it somehow.’
Or before that, he’d have to betray these guys first!
And so, the so-called most elegant nobleman of the divine realm(?) wore a grim expression as his eyes flashed.
“Uncle…!”
Yu Ha smiled when she saw Lee Geon appear before her.
Lee Geon had leaped out of Yu Ha’s shadow through [skill name].
And although Yu Ha was delighted to see her uncle, she quickly realized her mistake.
“Uncle, I’m sorry. You told me to wait quietly at the shrine…”
“No, you were doing great.”
Thanks to her, they had managed to round up all the ones he’d been targeting at once.
And that wasn’t all.
[Debt reduced by 50 billion.]
[Remaining debt: 48 billion.]
[Locked authority has been released.]
In the meantime, perhaps thanks to Yu Ha selling off the gods, another authority had been unlocked.
However, the subordinate god hiding in Lee Geon’s shadow looked quite flustered.
[Master, be careful. It’s a Battle God of Olympus.]
“!”
What the disinfectant (Yiaso) was referring to was the male god targeting Yu Ha.
He was a handsome man with wild eyes and long, disheveled hair.
[Divinity: Hercules]
And judging by his physique, it was understandable why they had been shocked to see Lee Geon and asked if he really was a Martial God.
‘He makes the Stone Lion and the Yellow Ox’s jerky look cute in comparison.’
Even the two largest of the Twelve Divine Generals would lose their nerve in front of this guy.
It seemed that those called Martial Gods in the divine realm made it a point to boast muscles beyond human comprehension.
Yiaso sharpened its edge and stayed on guard.
[Battle Gods are powerful combat deities that protect the divine realm.]
‘Battle God?’
Come to think of it, hadn’t he heard something similar when he used [Battle God Instinct] in Duat?
But the subordinate god ground its teeth as it glared at the man.
[The gods of Olympus must have sent him for revenge…!]
Revenge?
When Lee Geon laughed as if disgusted, the Battle God, who had been looking at him as if he were a runt, regarded him with interest.
“Judging by your aura, you’re that guy, aren’t you? The one who turned Olympus into a mess.”
The Battle God, who seemed sent by the Great Deity, appeared to have recognized Lee Geon immediately.
But that only made him look at Lee Geon as if he were even more bizarre and loathsome.
“How could a mere servant of the divine realm think of taking something like that as a follower?”
“!”
Unexpectedly, the Battle God was talking about Yu Ha.
No, to be precise, he was staring at Yu Ha’s arm.
“Having something like that with you will only harm the divine realm.”
What was contained in Yu Ha’s arm was an item that the gods of the divine realm greatly abhorred.
And gods who harmed the divine realm could not receive its praise.
He was worried that they wouldn’t be able to earn the divine realm’s favor, but Lee Geon’s eyes instead flashed.
He said it would harm the divine realm?
But that wasn’t the important thing right now.
“Heracles! You came just in time!”
“Hurry and steal that divinity from him!”
“With just that, we can restore both ourselves and our territory!”
“!”
The ones shouting were the Olympian gods, surrounded by other deities.
And when the Battle God moved as if annoyed at their words, the other gods who had come to capture the territorial gods recoiled in disgust.
“Good heavens, have those lunatics gone so far as to let a Battle God loose?”
Battle Gods were rare gods who stood at the peak even among Martial Gods.
They were not only masters of combat but also gods who defended the divine realm in times of crisis, a position that required great achievements as well.
“Aren’t those the guys who pummeled invading overlords and sent them packing…!”
Because of that, no faction dared lay a hand on a force that owned a Battle God.
But every Battle God had a filthy temper and was extremely violent, so they were rarely ever brought out.
Thus, the gods had no choice but to panic.
“Who on earth is that man?”
“Who else could it be? That’s the culprit who ran amok in Olympus!”
At someone’s words, the gods looked at Lee Geon in shock.
“What? So Olympus was crushed by that scrawny, malnourished bastard?!”
Hearing that, Lee Geon’s blood boiled, and the Olympian gods’ faces crumpled.
“Goodness, Olympus has truly hit rock bottom…!”
“Well, aren’t they just a bunch of unqualified idiot merchants?”
The Olympian gods’ blood boiled as they listened.
It wasn’t that they had hit rock bottom, but rather that Lee Geon’s existence was beyond the norm.
‘If only it weren’t for that divinity of [name].’
They had deliberately kept the divinity of the Cycle a secret within the divine realm.
‘It’s a power no one has ever managed to succeed in.’
Did they look like they’d admit that some nobody who didn’t even know its fundamentals could wield it?
Besides, revealing it would only allow others to steal that power.
That was why they gave the order.
“Heracles!”
“Ugh, I’ll make sure your reward is sky-high!”
No sooner had they spoken than the Battle God flew at Lee Geon.
But it wasn’t just an ordinary charge.
Boom!!
Familiar energy blazed from the Battle God’s body.
It was the authority of [Battle God Instinct], granted only to Battle Gods.
“I’ll make you into a snakeskin wallet!”
The moment the Battle God’s hand was about to tear Lee Geon apart—
“What the hell is this.”
Lee Geon, seeming enraged, leaped and clenched his fist at the Battle God.
Then, a force beyond imagination slammed into the Battle God’s face.
Boom!!
A deafening roar echoed through the streets.
Hit by Lee Geon, the Battle God shot away and instantly plowed through a building.
And the number of buildings he tore through in that instant? Dozens!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Kyaaah!”
Even after demolishing a temple, Lee Geon landed with an annoyed expression.
“That dumbass. He thinks he’s the only one who can use that.”
Then, at the sight of Lee Geon radiating a pure white light, the gods couldn’t believe their eyes.
[[Skill name] is in effect.]
[Remaining divinity: 30%]
The gods were horrified at the spectacle, and the Olympian gods frowned.
So the power he had used against the Great Deity wasn’t an illusion after all.
Back then, it had been mixed with the light of [something], so they couldn’t be sure, though the change in speed had made them suspicious. But now, at this moment, they had no choice but to be certain.
‘It wasn’t for nothing that the Great Deity drew that bastard’s card.’
The very existence of a Battle God was something almost never seen except in times of war.
‘He’ll demand an enormous sum of money.’
‘To think he’s at the level of a Battle God.’
But even so, there was no way Lee Geon could be a match for an Olympian Battle God. The achievements and history they had accumulated were worlds apart.
On the other hand, the gods seeing Lee Geon for the first time seemed quite shaken.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
“Wait a moment, that snake god—was he a Battle God?!”
“If he’s a Battle God, doesn’t that make him a candidate for Great Deity?!”
“Well, that changes everything…!”
As expected.
The Battle God, who had been sent flying a long way, came back wiping the blood away.
“What, you’re a Battle God too?”
Lee Geon narrowed his eyes.
The Battle God was touching his own face as if it were quite painful, but he hadn’t collapsed.
He was no pushover.
But it seemed the Battle God had instead lost his will to fight.
“If you’re a Battle God, that changes things. You should become a Great Deity.”
“What?”
“Recently, a Great Deity was extinguished by some bizarre event, and the balance of the divine realm was disrupted. So they’re selecting a new Great Deity right now—you should take it. A Battle God has the qualifications to be a Great Deity.”
At that, Lee Geon gave a cynical snort.
“Get lost. I’m going home to play with my nieces and nephews. I’ve got a mountain of toys to make for them.”
“Home? You don’t mean that dimension you rule over? Earth?”
“Why? Got a problem with that?”
When Lee Geon picked up the sword forged from the monarch of [something], the Battle God laughed as if pitying him.
“Hmm, Earth, huh? Well, that place is going to be destroyed soon anyway.”
“What?”
But at that moment, the Battle God charged at Lee Geon.
An immense force pressed down on Lee Geon, but he blocked the man’s arm and lifted the corners of his lips.
“This bastard’s got a bit too much power!”
Instead, Lee Geon seemed exhilarated as he kicked the Battle God.
Crack!! Boom!
He wasn’t a guy the gods hyped up for nothing—his attacks were heavy and he wasn’t to be taken lightly, but that didn’t matter.
[The power of [skill] applied to the body is being exerted.]
-Chased out by the ruler of the staircase (4-star) (Permanent defense increase)-
-Awakened fear of death in the master of the underworld (5-star) (Permanent attack power increase)-
As the achievements (divine deeds) were applied to his body, strength surged from Lee Geon.
Of course, the levels of the achievements he had accumulated were quite something. Selling them would help immensely with repaying his debt, and other gods who obtained special achievements would sell them right away, but Lee Geon didn’t do that.
‘They’re too good to sell!’
Achievements could raise physical abilities like stats or be used like skills.
And didn’t he have more achievements he’d gained since then?
[Subjugated the underworld gods of the Ennead (5-star)]
[Annihilated Olympus (6-star)]
Lee Geon immediately used the 5-star achievement.
At the same time, with a thunderous roar, a red glow wreathed Lee Geon’s hand.
Boom!
[Subjugated the underworld gods of the Ennead (5-star)]
-When encountering [condition], reduces the target’s armament by 50%-
Witnessing that, the Olympian gods ground their teeth.
‘That damn bastard! He really is using achievements.’
Whether he hadn’t used it yet or couldn’t use it, Lee Geon must have taken the achievement for annihilating Olympus.
And that achievement was for annihilating one of the eight major powers.
That would be at least a 5-star achievement!
‘We have to stop him from using it.’
And that was exactly what they said, because they could guess its power.
‘If we just get rid of that snake god, he could become a Great Deity in one shot…!’
If they killed Lee Geon, they would gain not only his divinity but also the highest-grade achievement for eliminating the one who annihilated Olympus.
And with that, they intended to make Heracles the Great Deity of this selection battle.
All because of the Great Deity’s [something].
‘Of all things, that damn thief Asran had to run off with it!’
The [item] was one of the [something] bestowed by the divine realm, a pillar of the divine realm, and only with it could a Great Deity wield perfect power.
But Asran, Lee Geon’s father—
That damned bastard not only stole the divinity of Olympus’s vital medical god, [name], but also stole the Great Deity’s proof on top of it!
Because of that, the Great Deity of Olympus couldn’t use their full power.
It wasn’t for nothing that they had turned to trade.
And this time as well, they had planned to win at the Great Deity’s shrine with the subordinate god of [name] and take the unowned core of the divine realm…!
‘Only for that snake god to interfere!’
Eventually, at that point, the encircled Olympian gods bit their lips.
“Servants loyal to Olympus! Aid the Battle God of Olympus!”
Then, as if responding to the sea god’s words, water spirits rose from the ground.
But that was the moment—
Whoooosh!!
“Cough!”
“Aaargh!”
The fierce solar flames that flew from the sky instantly vaporized the water spirits.
Having recognized the owner of that powerful authority, the sea god’s blood boiled.
“Louis!!”
There was no need to ask how he could use that authority.
“Have you abandoned your divinity?! For a territorial god to become the servant of some lowly human-born!”
The Olympian gods were now mostly in a human state.
And there was only one way for them to use authority in that condition!
To survive(?), the Scorching Heat Master, who had become the servant—no, the subordinate god—of Hugo, whom they so despised, gleefully snapped his fingers and launched flames.
At that, the territorial gods couldn’t help but seethe with rage.
“Why the hell is that bastard over there doing that?!”
“He’s the one with the highest bounty… mmph!!”
Aphrodite, who had spoken out, had her solar plexus pierced by the Scorching Heat Master’s arrow. The Scorching Heat Master, having fired the arrow, bowed his head.
“I have dealt with her, Master.”
“Louis! Have you lost your mind? The bounty was already 600… cough!”
This time, an arrow flew at Athena.
“Haha, what are you talking about? I’m the lowest of the low. Ah, nephew, catch the blue-haired sea god first. That bastard is worth a whopping 5 billion!”
“Louis!”
The Scorching Heat Master was desperately trying to hide his own bounty.
And then—
Boom!!!
Lee Gun narrowed his brows as he held the Olympian Investiture God.
"Tch, if only our Cheongong were here, he would've sliced him right up."
As if it didn't matter anymore, Lee Gun tried to grab the Earthly Gods. After all, even if he tried to make Heracles a feat of merit, the cost-efficiency was terrible.
"Right now, paying off my debt comes first."
At those words, the Investiture God looked at Lee Gun with interest.
"I thought you were a thug, but you're surprisingly decent. Talking about paying off debts while pretending not to see the big shot right next to you. Guess you're letting him off since he's your uncle?"
"What? Big shot?"
"Yeah, the Scorching Flame... Couwgh!!"
In an instant, an arrow pierced the Investiture God's mouth.
The Scorching Flame Sect Leader shouted, flustered.
"N-Nephew! Ignore that worthless punk and hurry up and grab the others!"
Sensing something suspicious, Lee Gun turned on the cell phone he had received from the Scorching Flame Sect Leader.
The controls were tricky, so he hadn't been using it, but surely once he connected to the network, he'd be able to get the latest bounty information.
But at that moment, an arrow came flying!
Crrack!
Having smashed Lee Gun's cell phone, the Scorching Flame Sect Leader broke out in a cold sweat.
Then he unfairly scolded Hugo.
"Y-You foolish master. How could you let the arrow miss?"
"Hey. You're the one who pushed."
It was just as Lee Gun was looking at the Scorching Flame Sect Leader with great suspicion.
A slime that had dropped out of the sky landed on top of Lee Gun's head.
And from wherever it had gotten it, it held out a piece of paper.
The Scorching Flame Sect Leader turned deathly pale at that paper.
[dead or alive]
[Scorching Flame Sect Leader 65 billion]
Well, what do we have here?
Seeing the wanted poster, Lee Gun gave a ferocious grin.
"What. If I catch just that one, is it done?"
As if he couldn't even see the others anymore, Lee Gun cracked his knuckles.
Thanks to that, the Scorching Flame Sect Leader could only curse at the slime waving the wanted poster around like an idol fan waving goods.
That damn slime!!
That thing really holds some kind of grudge against me!
But for whatever reason, Lee Gun lifted the corner of his mouth and relaxed. Seeing that sight, the Investiture God looked at him quizzically, and Lee Gun laughed.
"Yeah. Not interested in you guys anymore. Do whatever you want, get lost or whatever."
As Lee Gun turned away as if annoyed, the Investiture God's eyes flashed.
"No, I have business."
He was trying to strip Lee Gun of his divine authority.
The Investiture God exuded divine prestige and rushed at Lee Gun.
But that was the moment.
"Let me deal with you."
"!"
Haley lightly landed in front of the Investiture God.
The Investiture God's eyes went wide as he looked at Haley blocking his way.
And he suddenly stopped.
Uttuk.
"!"
Even the Investiture God's fist, which should never be stopping, came to a halt.
Thanks to that, Haley could only narrow her brows.
But the words that came out of the Investiture God's mouth, as if in a daze, lowering his fist, were unexpected.
"P-Pretty."
Then, as if asking when he'd ever tried to attack Lee Gun, he blushed and stepped back. Haley was baffled, and Lee Gun glared murderously at the Investiture God.
That bastard?
(Continued in the next episode)